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Bagheri Novair S, Cheraghi M, Faramarzi F, Asgari Lajayer B, Senapathi V, Astatkie T, Price GW. Reviewing the role of biochar in paddy soils: An agricultural and environmental perspective. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 263:115228. [PMID: 37423198 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
The main challenge of the twenty-first century is to find a balance between environmental sustainability and crop productivity in a world with a rapidly growing population. Soil health is the backbone of a resilient environment and stable food production systems. In recent years, the use of biochar to bind nutrients, sorption of pollutants, and increase crop productivity has gained popularity. This article reviews key recent studies on the environmental impacts of biochar and the benefits of its unique physicochemical features in paddy soils. This review provides critical information on the role of biochar properties on environmental pollutants, carbon and nitrogen cycling, plant growth regulation, and microbial activities. Biochar improves the soil properties of paddy soils through increasing microbial activities and nutrient availability, accelerating carbon and nitrogen cycle, and reducing the availability of heavy metals and micropollutants. For example, a study showed that the application of a maximum of 40 t ha-1 of biochar from rice husks prior to cultivation (at high temperature and slow pyrolysis) increases nutrient utilization and rice grain yield by 40%. Biochar can be used to minimize the use of chemical fertilizers to ensure sustainable food production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Bagheri Novair
- Department of Soil Science, University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
| | - Meysam Cheraghi
- Department of Soil Science, University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
| | - Farzaneh Faramarzi
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
| | | | | | - Tess Astatkie
- Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS B2N 5E3, Canada.
| | - G W Price
- Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS B2N 5E3, Canada.
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Qian S, Zhou X, Fu Y, Song B, Yan H, Chen Z, Sun Q, Ye H, Qin L, Lai C. Biochar-compost as a new option for soil improvement: Application in various problem soils. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 870:162024. [PMID: 36740069 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Due to the synergistic effects of biochar and compost/composting, the combined application of biochar and compost (biochar-compost) has been recognized as a highly promising and efficient method of soil improvement. However, the willingness to apply biochar-compost for soil improvement is still low compared to the use of biochar or compost alone. This paper collects data on the application of biochar-compost in several problem soils that are well-known and extensively investigated by agronomists and scientists, and summarizes the effects of biochar-compost application in common problem soils. These typical problem soils are classified based on three different characteristics: climatic zones, abiotic stresses, and contaminants. The improvement effect of biochar-compost in different soils is assessed and directions for further research and suggestions for application are made. Generally, biochar-compost mitigates the high mineralization rate of soil organic matter, phosphorus deficiency and aluminum toxicity, and significantly improves crop yields in most tropical soils. Biochar-compost can help to achieve long-term sustainable management of temperate agricultural soils by sequestering carbon and improving soil physicochemical properties. Biochar-compost has shown positive performance in the remediation of both dry and saline soils by reducing the threat of soil water scarcity or high salinity and improving the consequent deterioration of soil conditions. By combining different mechanisms of biochar and compost to immobilize or remove contaminants, biochar-compost tends to perform better than biochar or compost alone in soils contaminated with heavy metals (HMs) or organic pollutants (OPs). This review aims to improve the practicality and acceptability of biochar-compost and to promote its application in soil. Additionally, the prospects, challenges and future directions for the application of biochar-compost in problem soil improvement were foreseen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixian Qian
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Xuerong Zhou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Yukui Fu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Biao Song
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Huchuan Yan
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Zhexin Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Qian Sun
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Haoyang Ye
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China
| | - Lei Qin
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China.
| | - Cui Lai
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control, Hunan University, Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, PR China.
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Si S, Li Y, Tu C, Wu Y, Fu C, Yang S, Luo Y. Responses of Labile Organic Carbon and Extractable Cadmium Fractions in an Agricultural Soil Following Long-Term Repeated Application of Pig Manure and Effective Microbes. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2022; 109:304-309. [PMID: 35657399 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-022-03519-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Long-term pig manure addition has been widely applied in red soil to improve soil fertility. However, the influence of combined utilization of pig manure and effective microbes (EM) on soil organic carbon (SOC) and Cd are not well understood. This study conducted a 23-year (1996-2019) long-term fertilization field trial to investigate the changes of different fractions of SOC and Cd under chemical fertilization (CF), pig manure (PM), and pig manure with effective microbes (PM + EM) treatments in an agricultural soil of Jiangxi Province, South China. The results showed that the pig manure addition significantly enhanced the contents of SOC and Cd in the soils compared with the CF treatments. Furthermore, with the increment of SOC, the PM + EM treatment significantly increased the contents of soil microbial biomass carbon, dissolved organic carbon and easily oxidizable carbon compared with the pig manure application alone. Meanwhile, compared with the CF treatments, the EM addition significantly enhanced the exchangeable and oxidizable fractions of Cd, thus the potential Cd environment risk due to pig manure application should be carefully assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaocheng Si
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Yantai, 264003, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yuan Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Yantai, 264003, China
| | - Chen Tu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Yantai, 264003, China
| | - Yucheng Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Nanjing, 210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chuancheng Fu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Shuai Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Yantai, 264003, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yongming Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Yantai, 264003, China.
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Nanjing, 210008, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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Issaka E, Fapohunda FO, Amu-Darko JNO, Yeboah L, Yakubu S, Varjani S, Ali N, Bilal M. Biochar-based composites for remediation of polluted wastewater and soil environments: Challenges and prospects. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 297:134163. [PMID: 35240157 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, pesticides, and dyes are the main environmental contaminants that have serious effects on both land and aquatic lives and necessitate the development of effective methods to mitigate these issues. Although some conventional methods are in use to tackle soil contamination, but biochar and biochar-based composites represent a reliable and sustainable means to deal with a spectrum of toxic organic and inorganic pollutants from contaminated environments. The capacity of biochars and derived constructs to remediate inorganic dyes, pesticides, insecticides, heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals from environmental matrices is attributed to their extensive surface area, surface functional groups, pore size distribution, and high sorption capability of these pollutants in water and soil environments. Application conditions, biochar feedstock, pyrolysis conditions and precursor materials are the factors that influence the capacity and functionality of biochar to adsorb pollutants from wastewater and soil. These factors, when improved, can benefit biochar in agrochemical and heavy metal remediation from various environments. However, the processes involved in biochar production and their influence in enhancing pollutant sequestration remain unclear. Therefore, this paper throws light on the current strategies, operational conditions, and sequestration performance of biochar and biochar-based composites for agrochemical and heavy metal in soil and water environments. The main challenges associated with biochar preparation and exploitation, toxicity evaluation, research directions and future prospects for biochar in environmental remediation are also outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliasu Issaka
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, PR China
| | | | | | - Linda Yeboah
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, 00233, Accra, Ghana
| | - Salome Yakubu
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, PR China
| | - Sunita Varjani
- Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gandhinagar, 382 010, Gujarat, India
| | - Nisar Ali
- Key Laboratory for Palygorskite Science and Applied Technology of Jiangsu Province, National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Deep Utilization Technology of Rock-salt Resource, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003, China.
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003, China.
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Biological conversion of carbon monoxide and hydrogen by anaerobic culture: Prospect of anaerobic digestion and thermochemical processes combination. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 58:107886. [PMID: 34915147 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Waste biomass is considered a promising renewable energy feedstock that can be converted by anaerobic digestion. However, anaerobic digestion application can be challenging due to the structural complexity of several waste biomass kinds. Therefore, coupling anaerobic digestion with thermochemical processes can offset the limitations and convert the hardly biodegradable waste biomass, including digestate residue, into value-added products: syngas and pyrogas (gaseous mixtures consisting mainly of H2, CO, CO2), bio-oil, and biochar for further valorisation. In this review, the utilisation boundaries and benefits of the aforementioned products by anaerobic culture are discussed. First, thermochemical process parameters for an enhanced yield of desired products are summarised. Particularly, the microbiology of CO and H2 mixture biomethanation and fermentation in anaerobic digestion is presented. Finally, the state-of-the-art biological conversion of syngas and pyrogas to CH4 mediated by anaerobic culture is adequately described. Extensive research shows the successful selective biological conversion of CO and H2 to CH4, acetic acid, and alcohols. The main bottleneck is the gas-liquid mass transfer which can be enhanced appropriately by bioreactors' configurations. A few research groups focus on bio-oil and biochar addition into anaerobic digesters. However, according to the literature review, there has been no research for utilising all value-added products at once in anaerobic digestion published so far. Although synergic effects of such can be expected. In summary, the combination of anaerobic digestion and thermochemical processes is a promising alternative for wide-scale waste biomass utilisation in practice.
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Shin J, Park D, Hong S, Jeong C, Kim H, Chung W. Influence of activated biochar pellet fertilizer application on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration in rice (Oryza sativa L.) production. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 285:117457. [PMID: 34380210 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Supplemental activated biochar pellet fertilizers (ABPFs) were evaluated as a method to sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and improve rice production. The evaluated treatments were a control (standard cultivation method, no additives applied), activated rice hull biochar pellets with 40% of N (ARHBP-40%), and activated palm biochar pellets with 40% of N (APBP-40%). The N supplied by the ARHBP-40% and APBP-40% treatments reduced the need for supplemental inorganic nitrogen (N) fertilizer by 60 percent. The ARHBP-40% treatment sequestered as much as 1.23 tonne ha-1 compared to 0.89 tonne ha-1 in the control during the rice-growing season. In terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, CH4 emissions were not significantly different (p > 0.05) between the control and the ARHBP-40%, while the lowest N2O emissions (0.002 kg ha-1) were observed in the ARHBP-40% during the crop season. Additionally, GHG (CO2-equiv.) emissions from the ARHBP-40% application were reduced by 10 kg ha-1 compared to the control. Plant height in the control was relatively high compared to others, but grain yield was not significantly different among the treatments. The application of the ARHBP-40% can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon sequestration in crop fields, and ABPFs can increase N use efficiency and contribute to sustainable agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- JoungDu Shin
- Department of Climate Change and Agro-ecology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, WanJu Gun, 55365, Republic of Korea.
| | - DoGyun Park
- Department of Climate Change and Agro-ecology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, WanJu Gun, 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - SeungGil Hong
- Department of Climate Change and Agro-ecology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, WanJu Gun, 55365, Republic of Korea
| | - Changyoon Jeong
- Red River Research Station Louisiana State University AgCenter, 262 Research Station Driver Bossie City, Louisiana, LA7112, United States
| | - Hyunook Kim
- Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woojin Chung
- Department of Environmental Energy Engineering, Kyonggi University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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Azzi ES, Karltun E, Sundberg C. Assessing the diverse environmental effects of biochar systems: An evaluation framework. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 286:112154. [PMID: 33609929 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Biochar has been recognised as a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology. Unlike other CDR technologies, biochar is expected to deliver various valuable effects in e.g. agriculture, animal husbandry, industrial processes, remediation activities and waste management. The diversity of biochar side effects to CDR makes the systematic environmental assessment of biochar projects challenging, and to date, there is no common framework for evaluating them. Our aim is to bridge the methodology gap for evaluating biochar systems from a life-cycle perspective. Using life cycle theory, actual biochar projects, and reviews of biochar research, we propose a general description of biochar systems, an overview of biochar effects, and an evaluation framework for biochar effects. The evaluation framework was applied to a case study, the Stockholm Biochar Project. In the framework, biochar effects are classified according to life cycle stage and life cycle effect type; and the biochar's end-of-life and the reference situations are made explicit. Three types of effects are easily included in life cycle theory: changes in biosphere exchanges, technosphere inputs, and technosphere outputs. For other effects, analysing the cause-effect chain may be helpful. Several biochar effects in agroecosystems can be modelled as future productivity increases against a reference situation. In practice, the complexity of agroecosystems can be bypassed by using empirical models. Existing biochar life cycle studies are often limited to carbon footprint calculations and quantify a limited amount of biochar effects, mainly carbon sequestration, energy displacements and fertiliser-related emissions. The methodological development in this study can be of benefit to the biochar and CDR research communities, as well as decision-makers in biochar practice and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elias S Azzi
- Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Engineering, and Sciences (SEED), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden.
| | - Erik Karltun
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Sundberg
- Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Engineering, and Sciences (SEED), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden; Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
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Role of Biochar in Improving Sandy Soil Water Retention and Resilience to Drought. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13040407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, plants in sandy soils have been impacted by increased climate variability due to weak water holding and temperature buffering capacities of the parent material. The projected impact spreads all over the world, including New England, USA. Many regions of the world may experience an increase in frequency and severity of drought, which can be attributed to an increased variability in precipitation and enhanced water loss due to warming. The overall benefits of biochar in environmental management have been extensively investigated. This review aims to discuss the water holding capacity of biochar from the points of view of fluid mechanics and propose several prioritized future research topics. To understand the impacts of biochar on sandy soils in-depth, sandy soil properties (surface area, pore size, water properties, and characteristics) and how biochar could improve the soil quality as well as plant growth, development, and yield are reviewed. Incorporating biochar into sandy soils could result in a net increase in the surface area, a stronger hydrophobicity at a lower temperature, and an increase in the micropores to maximize gap spaces. The capability of biochar in reducing fertilizer drainage through increasing water retention can improve crop productivity and reduce the nutrient leaching rate in agricultural practices. To advance research in biochar products and address the impacts of increasing climate variability, future research may focus on the role of biochar in enhancing soil water retention, plant water use efficiency, crop resistance to drought, and crop productivity.
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Assessment of Agro-Environmental Impacts for Supplemented Methods to Biochar Manure Pellets during Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivation. ENERGIES 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/en13082070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The agro-environmental impact of supplemented biochar manure pellet fertilizer (SBMPF) application was evaluated by exploring changes of the chemical properties of paddy water and soil, carbon sequestration, and grain yield during rice cultivation. The treatments consisted of (1) the control (no biochar), (2) pig manure compost pellet (PMCP), (3) biochar manure pellets (BMP) with urea solution heated at 60 °C (BMP-U60), (4) BMP with N, P, and K solutions at room temperature (BMP-NPK), and (5) BMP with urea and K solutions at room temperature (BMP-UK). The NO3−–N and PO4−–P concentrations in the control and PMCP in the paddy water were relatively higher compared to SBMPF applied plots. For paddy soil, NH4+–N concentration in the control was lower compared to the other SBMPFs treatments 41 days after rice transplant. Additionally, it is possible that the SBMPFs could decrease the phosphorus levels in agricultural ecosystems. Also, the highest carbon sequestration was 2.67 tonnes C ha−1 in the BMP-UK treatment, while the lowest was 1.14 tonnes C ha−1 in the BMP-U60 treatment. The grain yields from the SBMPFs treatments except for the BMP-UK were significantly higher than the control. Overall, it appeared that the supplemented BMP-NPK application was one of the best SBMPFs considered with respect to agro-environmental impacts during rice cultivation.
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